Going Big: “Together” in the Art Park

One project in the studio this month is a 4′ x 6′ piece commissioned by the AFAS Group as part of their Public Arts Initiative. The initiative works to bring art to public areas and  into people’s daily lives. AFAS’s project includes an permanent outdoor gallery that opened in the fall of 2012– the brainchild of my friend and fellow Winston artist, Kendall Doub, who invited me to participate in this upcoming exhibit. 

Since it’s the 100 year anniversary for Winston Salem, AFAS requested artists to work around a loose theme of “Celebrate W-S” and create work about or inspired by the city we live in. My working title is “Together in this City”, and I am incorporating a whimsical nod to the Winston skyline. Here are a few photos of the painting in progress.

Sketching out the main characters

It’s been interesting to go back and forth between the paper casting projects I’m working through and this larger, flatter world. I’ve been translating my techniques for printing and building up a patina of distressed  layers on fabric to this surface and I’m remembering how much fun time spent with a large canvass can be!

painting in the background

masking out figures and printing first background layer: the sunset

Second layer of printing, background underpainting: foliage in orange

Clasped hands, after the 2nd round of printing, with masking removed

Recognize that landmark in the skyline?

underpainting complete, ready for the next layer

my current favorite part of this painting, the bottom right corner with creature #2’s arm

The outdoor gallery is located at 204 West 6th Street beside AFAS’ Unleashed Arts Center in the city’s downtown arts district. The Spring exhibit exhibit, including five new public art pieces, will be unveiled at the Gallery Hop May 3rd. You can find AFAS on facebook here.

• Art
• Exhibits
• Goings On
• in progress
• Now Printing:
• Painting
• printing
• screenprinting